Head in the Game: Using Cancer Cells to Study Neural Development
Head in the Game: Using Cancer Cells to Study Neural Development
Collections: Image Award Winners
2016 Award Winner
Russell McConnell, Frank Gertler
Koch Institute at MIT, MIT Department of Biology
Rapid growth and the ability to divide indefinitely make cancer cells a unique tool in fundamental biology research. In this experiment, cells derived from a brain tumor grow on a soft, flexible material that mimics the mechanical environment of the brain and spine.
Under these conditions, the axons do not branch, but instead form extensive, thread-like structures well suited for long-range connections between cells. Researchers continue to study how mechanical signals affect the shape and dynamic behavior of neurons during development and injury repair.